Cultural Connect: Mississippi's Monumental Move
Civil Rights has even become a part of a placement test that all students in the state are required to take in order to graduate to make sure that the material is indeed being taught. However there are still questions about what textbooks and materials the students will be taught with. Teachers also say that field trips to historical civil rights locations around the state will be apart of the learning process.
Hopefully this is a law that will be passed in other states and even on a national level. With Mississippi's poor reputation in education, allowing the studies of the Civil Rights movement to be taught year round on a state wide level is a major step in the right direction. Especially considering a time period that is other wise briefly glazed over in a 28day period during black history month. Now students will be allowed more in-depth knowledge to an era that helped shaped the United States all within a State that played a key part in that movement and is now continuing to keep it's story alive.
*For more information visit the Atlanta Post or Associated Press sites
808s: The Year in Music
The end of the decade has sparked a new musical era with many unexpected artists emerging onto the scene. These artist are more Avant Garde and in your face than ever or are either as simplistic as the average citizen. It's apparent that the public is drawn to those artist they can either relate to or those that seem as though they are from another world, so this is a look back at SOME of the artist who were on Top of the World in 2010. We couldn't fit everyone so we just picked our favorites. Enjoy :-)
TOP 5 ARTIST'S OF 2010
5. Dirty Money
4. Rick Ross
3. Kanye West
2. Drake
1. Nicki Minaj
We all might as well declare 2010 the year of Nicki because whether you like her or not she was everywhere, most talked about, and most anticipated. She landed a deal for a Lipstick with MAC cosmetics, released an album that had the best numbers of any female rapper in the last 8years, had over 10 song features and she doesn't seem to be slowing down soon. Let's see if she continues to reign in the upcoming year.
5. Dirty Money "Last Train to Paris"
4. Rick Ross "The Teflon Don"
3.Nicki Minaj "Pink Friday"
2. Kanye West "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"
1. Drake "Thank Me Later"
Top 5 Songs of 2010
5.Drake "Find Your Love"
4. Dirty Money "Hello Good Morning"
3. Rick Ross "Aston Martin Music "
2. Rosco Dash "No Hands"
1. Chris Brown "Deuces"
The "Fan of a Fan" mixtape with Tyga and Chris Brown was huge in popularity this year but nothing was more quoted than their song "Deuces" the video was number 1 on television for two consecutive months and the remix featured T.I., Drake, Kanye West, Andre 3000, and Rick Ross. Which gives it the stamp of approval as the hottest record of the year.
TOP 5 MIXTAPES
5.Khidd P "The Transition: Reloaded"
4. Big Sean "Famous vol. 2"
3. Wale "More About Nothing"
2. J.Cole "Friday Night Lights"
1.Wiz Khalifa "Kush and Orange Juice"
Wiz Khalifa's "Kush and Orange Juice" mixtape was all anyone could talk about in the first half of this year. Giving him the push from underground artist to mainstream. Even other hip-hop heads were requesting to tour with him. Songs such as "Up" and "Never Been" are some of the popular tracks that has made this artist one of the most anticipated for the upcoming year.
5. Ciara "Ride"
4. Trey Songz "Yo Side of the Bed"
3. Keri Hilson "Pretty Girl Rock"
2. Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce "Telephone"
1. Kanye West "Runaway"
FASHION: New Blog is the perfect Fashion Fix
Young
Original
Individual
This is for my fashion lovers! Here at Epiphanies and 808s we're always on the lookout for fresh blogs and this is one you simply must visit. The names says it all "Fly Young Original Individual" is a fashion
blog with daily updates, photos, and is juiced up with so much originality and spice that you won't find anything else like it on the web. Founder of the blog (Tyaletha better known as Ty) is a fashionista with a passion for all things creative and original. The blog also features some of her own personal designs as well as others. You can see posts on everything from the latest trends to what's hitting the runways, so as soon as you finish your daily fix of Epiphanies808s make sure you visit. www.fyoi-ty.blogspot.comHOLIDAY CONTEST GIVE AWAY
Contest: Using your personal talents and skills Create your own content dealing with one of the five sections of the blog those sections being: 808s, Epiphanies, Food 4 Thought, Cultural Connect, and It's Poetic. Present your content in a creative way! Have fun with it :-) After your entry is complete email it to me at: Epiphanies_808s@yahoo.com If you create a video for the contest just send me the link to watch it.
Contest Rules: The contest officially begins December 21st 2010 and Ends January 1st 2011. NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE END DATE. All entries must be ORIGINAL work and a maximum of two entries per person. Your entry must include your name, what section your content represents, and what you like and dislike about Epiphanies808s.blogspot.com
Prizes: First Wins A Victoria Secret Gift Card or A Footlocker Gift Card and Your post will be featured on the blog, Second and Third Place Entries will have their post featured on the blog
Section Descriptions:
808s- The 808's section is where musical content is posted dealing w/ anything music related, this includes new music, features and articles on artist, or anything related to music or a music artist ex. "The Transition: Reloaded Mixtape Review"
Epiphanies- The Epiphanies section is more personal thoughts or documentation of how something triggered a realization causing you to have an Epiphany about anything big or small in life ex. My Journey to Blogging"
Food 4 Thought- The Food 4 Thought Section is where debatable topics are spoken on such as love, friendships, or anything that starts out in the form of a question ex. The "Are You as REAL as you think?" post
Fashion- The fashion section is where anything beauty, fashion, or clothes related is posted including pictures, what's hot for the season or new products to look out for ex. "Victoria Fashion Show" post
It's Poetic- The section where poets or poems are featured whether by written word or video ex. the "I am Ambition" poem posted on the main page
Cultural Connect- The section where anything news or community related is posted anything dealing from local or worldwide culture ex. The "Wyclef for President?" post
THE BLOG I MENTIONED IN MY VIDEO: ----> www.reddlipstick.blogspot.com
CONTACT INFO: EPIPHANIES_808S@YAHOO.COM
FOLLOW MY PERSONAL TWITTER: @HERSHEYS_KASH
FOLLOW MY BLOGS TWITTER: @EPIPHANIES_808S
SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG! ENJOY! AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS! :-D
808s: Nicki Minaj is Aladdin Not Jasmine
ALADDIN
Nicki Minaj.
Quotes by Nicki
"Got the eye of the tiger, The Lion of Judah, now it's me in my time, it just me in my prime."
"I'm fighting for the girls that never thought they could win, because before they could begin you told them it was the end, but I am here to reverse the curse that they live in."
"In Romans Revenge I say I am not Jasmine I am Alladin, It's time for the girl to be the main character yah know?"
"I am not a word, I am not a line, I am not a girl who could ever be defined."
"Why isn't their a female rapper turned mogul? I mean having an Empire beyond your rap career? and I don't know why, I just know I wanna be the first, and I will be."
"I'm not doing it for me, I'm doing it for them, when you start affecting lives you're no longer doing it for you."
"We done did everything they can think of, greatness is what we on the brink of."
"I'm on that different type of high heroine, put on my cape and hit the sky heroine."
"You have to ask for what you want. You have to identify what it is you need to get where you have to go and then speak that, and program it into your life."
Find All things Nicki related here:
www.twitter.com/nickiminaj
www.iminaj.com
www.nicki-minaj.net
www.nickiminajfans.com
Pink Friday
2. Romans Revenge feat. Eminiem
3. Did It On'Em
4. Right Thru Me
5. Fly feat. Rihanna
6. Save me
7.Moments 4 Life feat. Drake
8. Check It Out feat. WILL.I.AM
9. Blazin feat. Kanye West
10. Here I Am
11. Dear Old Nicki
12. Your Love
13. Last Chance feat. Natasha Bedingfiend
14. Super Bass
15. Blow Ya Mind
16. Muny
17. Wave Ya Hand
18. Catch Me
Dear Old Nicki,
Your influence moves beyond your music. I see myself in you. I keep this to myself because most people would be appalled at the fact that I this dark-skinned, coarse haired, African-American, 20year old college student has the nerve to mention herself in the same sentence as Nicki Minaj. But I do not mean in the physical sense. Just the pure essence of who you are and what you stand for is something I find myself relating too. Witnessing your career aspirations fabricated in reality remind me of the dreams I am striving to achieve, the voice I'm creating and stating on a daily. Many see you as simply an artist or the best female rapper and others just see you as a sex symbol, but none of those things are what draws me to your music or your movement. What draws me in is the messages you send and the truth that you put out everyday. Your passion and hunger to be successful in life that comes from an unselfish place, your struggle between being a "b*tch and a boss", the powerful and positive affect you have on people, yet showing the same vulnerability, fear, and happiness as a normal person. Hearing your album the last thing I expected was to hear the thoughts I think everyday in your songs. In most music that I enjoy I feel like the artist is speaking to me, but I felt like you were speaking through me. Which is why I've cultivated such a passion for your artistry. Watching your success is helping to fuel the fire within myself to be bigger and better to reach my goals with a confidence in who I am and a resilience to continue when the going gets tough. I am a woman, a visionary, unlocking the power of my mind and who I am to help those in this world around me. You are rising to the occasion and I when I'm rooting for you I am in turn rooting for myself. Thanks Nicki for reminding me that these dreams of mine are not as intangible as they sometimes seem and if I work hard enough I'll being flying and experiencing my own "Moments 4 Life". I truly tip my hat off to you and I hope one day I profoundly ignite a flame in someone the way you have conjured a fire in me. with sincerity,
KaShawn
Fashion: VICTORIA SECRET FASHION SHOW PICS
On November 30th The Victoria Secret fashion Show premiered on CBS. This years show featured a combination of many different and creative themes which were broken into five sections. Katy Perry and Akon provided performances for the Angels to walk to. Fan favorite Adriana Lima and Chanel Iman were among the Angels that walked. Pictures from the show below.
FOOD 4 THOUGHT: Are You as REAL as you think?
Re·al [ree-uhl, reel] genuine; not counterfeit, artificial, or imitation; authentic. Fake [feyk] something specious, deceptive, or fraudulent. Everybody wants to be considered real or self proclaim that they are, and no one wants to be bashed for being fake. But how do you distinguish between the two? How do you really know if someone is real or fake? Recently I discovered that the definitions I had of what makes someone real and how to be able to tell a real individual were all wrong. I always thought that if you were straight up blunt with people, saying things others wouldn’t say, and could tell someone about themselves in the blink of an eye. Oh you’re real! Uhh WRONG. When I asked the question on my twitter what goes along with being real. A fellow blogger at reddlipstick.blogspot.com said something that really got me thinking, Loyalty. Loyalty plays such a large part in being real because so many people are called faked because another party feels as though they haven’t been loyal to them in a sense. Being real starts with being honest with yourself and using that judgment to decide how you deal with others. Sometimes you have to check yourself and be like okay, I’m trying to justify this but I know I’m wrong. I know I’m doing some sneaky stuff and it’s not right because I know so-in-so would feel a certain way about it. The common misconception is being real has to do with you and only you, no you’re being real with yourself so that you can be real with others. It’s the whole point. Anyone can get belligerent, mean, rude, or loud. But not everyone can admit their mistakes, set aside their own wants for a friend, or give someone they’re friends with the benefit of the doubt before judging or talking about them. Not everyone can go to a person and call them out on something they are doing wrong because they genuinely care about that individual. Being real is being selfless, knowing that even though they might get mad, you may not get what you want every time, or you might hurt a few feelings, you are doing it for a purpose, not just to be a bitch, or be spiteful or for personal gain. So think about it, are you really as REAL as you think? Or are you sitting around with an ignorant definition of what real is? I’m a true believer of karma and “you are the company you keep” so if you’re always surrounded by people who are faking on you, doing trifling stuff behind your back, or you find you can trust no one. You might want to evaluate yourself and your own actions. Treat people the way you want to be treated it’s the oldest philosophy in the book. Doing what’s real is doing what’s right. Now, how would you classify yourself? Real? Or do you still have some work to do? Just something to think about…..
Its Poetic: Flying
FLYING
I am not a prisoner of my past
I won't let a dark shadow be cast upon me
surround myself with glass you can see right through me
inside a soul fighting to be free
I tell myself the negative won't effect me
but instead focus on others and neglect me
although everything taught me to respect me
the impact is like veins in my heart
can't separate them or tare them apart
intertwined like vines
i was once a broken soul, a dark cloud, a shadow, in nothing but despair
then my soul rose like the night air and I took flight
took flight into a sky of dreams
a sky of hopes, and all things beautiful in-between
the past is still trying to clip my wings
but I still continue you to fly it seems
I am a spirit of many secrets
locked away in my closet are some skeletons
that would melt my strength like jelly-ton
but that doesn't seem to slow me down
check my surrounds I'm still elevating, still accelerating
until I reach the best possible me that I see
wings sometimes restless from fighting the debris pulling me down
but I refuse to let myself touch the ground
let the rain pour, here comes snow, sleet, and hail
put me through hell yet I will not fail
I will not be conquered, monitor my motions
I bypass oceans, mountains, trees, nothing will stop me
I am the creation of a God that is exalted
he didn't make me faulted my progress you can't halt it
I am not a victim but the victor, survived all the rigor
and then something more beautiful and passionate was what I was given
my past does not own me
so this is an open invitation to try and diabolically destroy me
is their anyone with the inclination that my destiny won't come to be?
because happiness is my destiny and soon I can rest my wings
because one day i decided not to play the victim
instead I would use my vision to make my success and happiness absolute
and now I'm flying to the highest altitude
by: Lady KaSh
YOUTUBE BEAUTY GURUS
YOUTUBE BEAUTY GURUS
Don’t know how to apply concealer? Or where to find the cutest pigmented eye shadows? Maybe you just want tips on how to put your accessories together with an outfit or how to manage your hair better. Since the creation of Youtube finding out all this is only a 5minute video away. All over YouTube you can find thousands of people subscribed to “Beauty Gurus” channels. A Makeup Guru is someone who is passionate and knowledgeable about all things related to fashion, Make-up, and hair. Being one requires no formal education all you need is a camera and some personal style. Some videos have over a million views on how to apply make-up looks or how to create a certain hairstyle. Some of these Guru's have become so popular that they even receive perks for their love of things beauty related such as receiving free products from different companies to promote on their YouTube Videos as well as giving out their tips in some of today's most popular magazines including Seventeen Magazine and Marie Claire magazine. Among the most popular Beauty Guru's are DulceCandy87, fafinettex3, and MakeupDOLL, just to name a few. They usually have blogs, twitters, and use other social networks to answer further questions and even sell some of their personal items. These Guru's vary in age, ethnicity, and size want to become one or interested in watching their videos? Listed below are links of some of our favorite Guru's as well as a make-up tutorial by MakeupDOLL enjoy :-)
The Transiton Reloaded: Mixtape Review
On October 31 2010 Khidd P’s long awaited mixtape The Transition: Reloaded was released. Prior to its release Khidd P’s previous projects included: The Transition and The Abandoned Tracks. This mixtape however was on a different level than the first two, hosted by not only Khidd P but by DJ Streetzz as well. The transition reloaded featured 16 tracks of well mixed and mastered content and was basically broken down into three sections. The first section of the mixtape serves as an introduction to those who are unfamiliar with Khidd P’s music with tracks like “No Going Back” highlighting Khidd’s lyrical ability and punch lines. Tracks like “Ain’t Nuttin Changed”, and “Beamer, Benz, or Bentley” introduce you to the other members of Phly Guyy Entertainment which include Big Mike and Bennie Sav who both have upcoming projects in the works. The Mixtape then transitions into a few tracks for female fans with Khidd P even stating this himself “You gotta have tracks for the ladies.” The tracks featured in this section showed a different style of rapping for the Phly Guyy with a more sped up flow in “OMG-PGmix” and a slowed down flow in “There Goes My Baby”. The last section of the mixtape was a collection of amplified versions of the first two really showcasing Khidd P’s skill level in tracks like “Ignorant thoughts” and the heartfelt “It’s Been a Pleasure”. TT Reloaded even included a few songs from Khalil's previous mixtape The Abandoned Tracks such as "Who Dat", "Unthinkable", and "Light Up". Overall The Transition: Reloaded allowed you a great overview of what type of artist Khidd P is developing into, with clever word play, well thought out hooks, and a personality that shines through wax. He manages to take a playful approach while speaking truth and has a natural charisma and relate ability with his audience making you feel as though the tracks are a series of conversations with you the listener. But the mixtape doesn't come without flaws. Tracks like “Acapella” fell short in lyricism, flow, and showed how premature Khidd is as an artist and some of the features were questionable, specifically the two artist not on PGE that where featured on “There Goes My Baby”. Epiphaniesand808s gives The Transition: Reloaded 3 ½ out of 5 stars. We do recommend you download The Transition Reloaded but hope to see even more progression in Khidd P's upcoming mixtapes The Problem Child, and the much anticipated Lonely Nights In Paradise. Below is the Link where you can here TT Reloaded and a list of our favorite tracks. Enjoy :-)
*= HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
OUR FAVORITES:
2. No Goin' Back
3. Ain't Nuttin Changed Team Regime Ft. Khidd P and Pi'erre*
6. Unthinkable*
7.OMG-PGmix
10. Ignorant Thoughts Ft. Big Mike*
11. Back Pack Rap
12. Lose My Mind Ft. Big Mike and Bennie Sav
14. It's Been A Pleasure*
808s: Cypher gives Shine at BET HipHop Awards
808s: R&B becoming Rare?
R&B MUSIC BECOMING RARE?
Hip-Hop is at the head of the class. It’s continuing to become more mainstream and has countless new artist emerging almost daily. With different rappers of different styles collaborating and touring together on a regular basis. It seems as though an R&B artist is lucky to find themselves singing a hook. A few years ago everyone was saying Hip-Hop was dead but the real question is what direction is R&B music going?
With Auto-tunes growing in popularity some artist don’t even need to feature singers on their tracks, and it’s become harder and harder for new R&B artists to be introduced. Alicia Keys, Trey Songz, Beyonce, Monica, and Usher are a few artists who have maintained their popularity but all of these artists have at least three albums already. So what about those new artist? They’re still out their but they aren’t getting the same exposure that new R&B artist were getting a few years ago. “Jasmine Sullivan is one of the most under-rated artist she is phenomenal.” A fan tweeted via twitter. Is she under-rated because people aren’t paying attention to this genre of music like they were before? Even artist like Ginuwine, who had three successful albums, was hardly heard on the radio before his sales began to slow down in the last five years. It seems as though the Rhythm and Blues is becoming lost. None-the-less an artist or two have managed to muster their way to stardom. Keri Hilson who released “In A Perfect World” at the beginning of 2009 experienced major success, but even in writing this article I found it almost impossible to think of a male counter part who is new and had experienced equal success.
It’s clear that to preserve the melodies of songs about love, pain, and personal experiences something has to be done. Someone has to bring R&B back to the for-front or at least create an avenue for it to co-exist with the well oiled machine that is Hip-Hop. Now the only question that remains is whose going to make it happen?
CULTURAL CONNECT: Wyclef for President?
WYCLEF FOR PRESIDENT?
For the past few weeks rumors have been in circulation that three-time Grammy award winner, Wyclef Jean, was considering running for President in his birth country of Haiti. Late last week while appearing on Larry King Live via Haiti Jean confirmed that indeed he would be running for President. “After the events of January 12 my country has the chance to rebuild from the bottom up.” He said referring to the devastating earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands of Haitians earlier this year.
Jean, who is only forty years old, believes that he is the voice of the youth, which is over 50% of Haiti’s population. “I represent the voice of the youth we’ve had the same type of government for over 200yrs electing me as president will give the people something new.” With elections taking place November 28th of this year Jean has only a few months to campaign. When asked what he plans to accomplish while in office he stated things similar to what we are trying to achieve here in America. “I plan on focusing my attention on education reform, rebuilding Haiti’s infrastructure, creating jobs, and security.”
Jean is no stranger to helping Haiti, over the last decade he has been the most active Humanitarian and Philanthropist in the country and has donated millions of dollars towards educational and infrastructural projects. He focused greatly on the poverty of the country. However some are still skeptical about whether he will be able to lead an entire country. Either way this is sure to be one of Haiti's most covered and memorable elections.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:DARK SKIN LIGHT SKIN
It seems as though there has always been an issue among African-American woman when it comes to the color of our skin. A color barrier within our race light-skinned sisters vs. dark-skin sisters. This is an issue that is close to my heart. I am dark skinned so I decided to write about it but I wanted more than just my perspective to be seen. This week's guest writer is of the light skinned complexion and a soon to be fellow blogger :-). You are graced with a preview of what to look forward to on her blog as well as what I have to say. I hope you enjoy these two pieces :-) LIGHT SKIN
DARK SKIN
I was born this way, deep and rich in a coco pigmentation of my exterior. I am the result of a sun kissed bliss that is my heritage. Yet here in my environment among peers with similar cultures as mine, a place where I should feel comfortable, I am degraded to being “Pretty for a Dark skin girl.” And THAT is how it all began.
In fact that seems to be a universal phrase towards darker African-American women. It wasn't only the saying itself that troubled me. It’s what it represented. First of the all, the people saying it actually found it to be acceptable. Do you realize when you tell me “You sure are nice looking for someone that’s so black.” It Insinuates that black is the equivalent of Ugly and if you're dark you're more than likely unattractive? It's as if I am some exception to a rule. Black is beautiful. Haven’t you heard? Still as we humans sometimes do, this caused me to ask myself questions in regards to the nature of black beauty. So what is considered beautiful if not I? That’s when I began my self-righteous hell bent negativity towards my light-skinned counter parts.
Ever since High school I would “throw shade” at them. I spoke avidly and got into heated debates of how their beauty is over-rated, how it is easier for them to get jobs or opportunities and how they acted as if they were superior to Dark skin sisters. Quite frankly I walked around pissed at them for years. Because I was fed-up! Every time I turned on the radio it was “Red bone long hair” this and “caramel” that. Even the most prominent pop cultural figures (i.e. Beyoncé, Tyra banks) were all I saw. I felt as though I wasn’t good enough because I wasn’t light-skinned. I wanted my voice to be heard too. I was tired of being pre-judged. I remember once someone said. “You know, you are alright for a dark skin girl. You aren’t ghetto and dirty like the other ones I know.” What the HELL? The ignorance just sickens me.
Ironically I always found myself being best friends with people of a lighter complexion. Not in a compensation type of way either. It would naturally happen. But that didn’t change my feelings about how I was treated as a chocolate sister or the way I felt about “them”. In fact my friends would have to take daily lashings of my underhanded comments. “Your yellow self” or “you know the only reason that happened is because you’re light-skinned”. Daily debates would be me and my best friend vocalizing our view points that we were so sure the other could not possibly understand. Then one day on twitter the light skin dark skin conversation began. I wasn’t a part of it though I was merely a spectator and in that moment it hit me.
What were we all doing? Nothing but throwing hate towards each other when we both were experiencing the same struggle! We were breeding each other’s ignorance. I use to say “You don’t understand my struggle because you are light skinned and what you are dealing with is different, therefore you can’t walk in my shoes,” but I was wrong. When it comes down to it we are all being judged by the color of our skin. Literally, the color, not simply by our race but by how much pigmentation we were born with. It’s sad in all honesty. This is not a modern day problem it’s deeply rooted. Back during times of slavery slave owners would always try to “divide and conquer” physically separating darker and lighter slaves which caused a mental separation to fester. A hundred years later we are still being divided.
It is drilled so deep within our conscious that we don’t even see it. We are so busy fighting to be heard that we don’t realize we are both saying the same thing. I had to stop looking at it as “them” because black is us. Black Is beautiful. That includes the different browns, chocolates, caramels and cappuccino colors that we are. The diversity among is the things that’s destroying us but it should be bringing us together. Instead of focusing on tearing each other apart we need to embrace one another. We do not decide the complexion we are given at birth we have no control over that. Let’s stop focusing our attention on hating one another and try to better ourselves. Accept that which you are. This argument does not need to continue because either way it will be an empty victory. When I look at my best friend now I don’t judge her based on who she is beyond her exterior because I see her based on the character she has spent her life building. Yes she is light skinned. She can’t change that and shouldn’t want to. She was born that way.
At first, I didn't understand the "difference". As a matter of fact, I didn't even know the "difference" existed. But I found out at an early age. It was abruptly brought to my attention by the infamous quotes I became accustomed to throughout my whole life.
"She didn't deserve that, she only got it because she was light-skinned."
"She’s not cute; she's just light skinned with hair."
Even members of my own family, saying that me and my male counterpart were only awarded valedictorian and salutatorian in kindergarten class because my teacher favored "yellow" kids. Confused, I thought it was because I worked the hardest and actually deserved it.
And it only got worse since then.
The light skinned/dark skinned subject became a major part of my life. I was constantly defending myself and other people of my color that the things that we were given, we deserved, scholastic awards or not, we had to work just as hard as everyone else.
My arguments were always corrupted by the media. With songs blaring lyrics such as "I like a long haired thick red bone," and front covers of magazines always broadcasting people of lighter skin, I was always felt the need to eat my words.\
Even I felt ashamed to proudly claim my skin complexion, whereas my best friends were free to announce that they were "cocoa" and "a beautiful chocolate complexion"
I felt the need to do things to prove that I was capable DESPITE my complexion, instead of owning it.
I realized that I didn't work as hard as everyone else, I worked TWICE as hard so people could look past that, and still got hit with,
"She’s JUST light skin. That’s the ONLY reason."
I started to then think that people of darker complexions were bitter of what the media was doing to them, but were taking it out on everyday people.
I had the attitude of "this wasn't my fault, so why do I get the back lashing for it?"
A friend of mine once said that my idol Lena Horne, was not a true civil rights activist because she "Looked white anyway."
Lena Horne did not use her complexion to her advantage. She would not accept any special treatment that her whole race couldn't use.
A "we are all in this together" attitude that I love.
Sadly this is a struggle that the whole African-Americans are going to continue to face until we learn to realize that are not a race of dark and light, but a race of many different skin complexions working towards one common goal. People need to stop judging someone's credibility by the lightness or darkness of their skin, but of their true character.
We will continue to be enslaved by the notions that slavery has put on us until we learn to put color behind us.
Kid Cudi: Bold Statement Sparks a good question
"I'm definitely one of the Top Five artists saying something important right now. Whether that's OG or new artist." Kid Cudi said almost a year ago around this time. This was quite a bold statement for the new artist just coming off the release of his first album entitled "Man on the Moon". He even went on to say, "With alot of new artist like Wale and Bobby Ray (B.O.B.), I think we're all gonna push the envelope of creativity and I think it's going to spark a whole new movement." Now, a year after those statements were made artist like B.O.B. have released albums in the Top 5 on the billboard charts, while others like J.Cole and Wiz Khalifa have also begun to emerge in the mainstream. Drakes album debuted at #1 and is already platinum. He is among these new artists. Which has us over at Epiphanies and 808s wondering. Was Kid Cudi right? Is the new mainstream on it's way to being filled with artist that would rather spend time rhyming about internal thoughts and provoking questions than how much money they managed to spend on their last advanced check? It certainly seems that way, and if so who are the other artist "saying something important right now?" To be classified as one of these artist do you need a heavy weight backing you? Kid Cudi is known as Kanye West's Protege and J. Cole was the first artist signed to Jay-z's ROCnation just to name a few. Epiphanies and 808s want to know your opinions. So let us know by commenting below. Who are YOUR top 5 artists saying somethign important right now?Below is the video clip from the interview where Kid Cudi made these statements.
Join The Navy: Fashion
Join the Navy
Usually summer is all about pastels and bright colors. But this season I've really been into the color navy. It provides a nice contrast to floral patterns and puts a twist on other wise simplistic outfits. From a pair of pumps to to a classic blazer navy is the way to go. Here are just a few pieces that you can incorporate into your wardrobe. Enjoy :-)
CULTURAL CONNECT: JAMAL "JAY" DUKES
Jamal "Jay" Dukes is a 2010 Graduate of Claflin University. While attending Claflin he majored in Mass Communications and hosted almost every major event on the campus. He has interned at Radio Stations and lead the Promotion of events throughout the entire state of South Carolina. Dukes recently entered a Contest at Oprah.com where he is auditioning to have his own show. Dukes says his show will be catered to college students and recent Graduates by "highlighting the actions and accomplishments people are doing, whether it's their talents or their service. They are doing great things in our community and in our Society today and nobody is highlighting it." Sounds like something you want to support? VOTE FOR JAMAL DUKES BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW!
http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=17744&promo_id=1
